title: Neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone on intrauterine ischemia in the fetal rat brain: ultrastructural evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone on oxidative damage in intrauterine ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 19-day pregnant rats were divided into five groups. Fetal brain ischemia was achieved in the ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) group by bilaterally closing the utero-ovarian artery with aneurysm clips for 30 min and subsequently removing the aneurysm clips for 60 min for reperfusion. Mg (600 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg) were administered 20 min before the I/R insult. The lipid peroxidation in the brain tissue was determined by the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The mitochondrial score was calculated after an evaluation with electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the electron microscope and TBARS data showed a significant difference between the control and I/R groups. The Mg and dexamethasone treatment groups exhibited significantly lower TBARS values compared to the IR group. Similarly, the mitochondrial scores in the Mg and dexamethasone treatment groups were significantly lower than those in the I/R group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Result showed that magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone prevent lipid peroxidation and reduce mitochondrial injury thus suggests neuroprotective effects in fetal rat brain in intrauterine ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Askin Esen
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hasturk
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harman
authors.forename: Turkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arca
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sargon
authors.forename: Kamer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kilinc
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaptanoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D003907:Dexamethasone